Previous Rallies, Vigils and Events.
March 2024
Reports here:
Vermonters Protest Matisyahu at Higher Ground over Gaza Genocide RakeVermont, March 14, 2024 by Patrick St. John
Activists Protest Outside Matisyahu Show at Higher Ground Seven Days, March 14, 2024 by Chris Farnswort.
Photo by RakeVermont
Will Miller Lecture Series
“No New Prisons: Reimagining Communities Through Collective Organizing”
March 26, 2024, 7:00 pm at University of Vermont, Lafayette Hall L207
Supporting signers of the Letter to Pres. Biden signed by 64 VT legislators and Lt. Governor David Zuckerman
The letter starts: We, the undersigned Vermont elected officials, implore you to take immediate action to demand a permanent ceasefire in the Israeli government’s military campaign in Gaza, to conditionally halt any further arms sales or military aid to the Israeli government, and to use diplomatic means to urge all parties to cease hostilities and talk peace.
February 2024
Montpelier – February 20th, 2024: All Eyes on Rafah – sponsored by JVP-VT/NH
January 2024
Rally and March for Gaza
Stop Israel’s Genocidal War Now! Free Palestine!
January 20th 1pm
City Hall, 149 Church St., Burlington, VT.
Videos of the Rally
WCAX report: “Organizers say local Free Palestine Movement is growing” WCAX TV, By Sophia Thomas, Jan. 20, 2024,
Israel is carrying out a genocide in Gaza. It has killed over 23,000 people, obliterated entire cities, driven 2 million Palestinians from their homes, and blocked humanitarian aid, precipitating mass hunger and disease. It has repressed Palestinians within its borders, launched attacks on the West Bank, and bombed Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq, threatening a regional war. The Biden administration has supported, funded, and armed Israel in our name and with our tax dollars. We must unite to stop Israel’s war and stand with Palestinians in the struggle for liberation from Israeli occupation, siege, and apartheid.
photo: The Rake Vermont
o Vermonters Blockade Military Contractor in Vergennes Over Role in Gaza The Rake Vermont, January 15, 2024 by Patrick St. John
Group of Jewish Vermonters demand ceasefire in Gaza during protest in Vergennes MyNBC 5, WPTZ Plattsburgh-Burlington, Story by Michael Cusanelli, Jan. 15, 2024
o Protestors block the entrance of Vergennes Collins Aerospace plant and call for ceasefire in GazaWFFF Burlington by Matt Holderman, Jan. 15, 2024
o Anti-war protesters target Vergennes weapons facility to call for cease-fire in Gaza Waving Palestinian flags and signs that said “Stop Arming Genocide” and “Stop The War Machine,” protesters blocked the facility’s entrances to prevent new personnel from entering the building in an attempt to shut down production for the afternoon. VT Digger, by Habib Sabet, January 15, 2024.
o OutRightVT Rally on Martin Luther King Day 2024 in Burlington
December 2023
Tuesday December 19th
Saturday December 2nd
1-3 pm
State House Lawn
Hundreds rallied in front of the State House in Montpelier – Saturday December 2nd, 2023.
The crowd and the speakers represented people who share the sense of outrage at the genocide in Palestine, enabled and funded by our government.
It was a convergence of Palestinians, First Nation People, Migrant Workers, Union members, Artists – a whole spectrum of American people.
All demanding Free Palestine! End the Occupation! Stop Funding Genocide!
VT Digger report here
Peter Schumann (Bread and Puppet Theater) – recording:
“We – who are not dead – yet.
But are born into a civilization that routinely produces large quantities of death!
As part of its mechandise…”
November 2023
Burlington City Hall
For Black Friday, and Christmas tree lighting
Sunday December 3rd, 10 am – 3pm
Scan the QR code to register and receive information about the location in the Montpelier/Barre area.
RALLY IN SUPPORT
OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE
In collaboration with the National March on Washington: Free Palestine!
Saturday, November 4th, 2023
Battery Park, Burlington
Israel has declared total war against the people of Gaza. It has also carried out attacks in the West Bank and into the surrounding region. With the full military, economic, and diplomatic support of the U.S., the Israeli military is killing thousands of Palestinians, destroying schools, hospitals, mosques, churches, and houses, and forcing hundreds of thousands of people from their homes. We must stand with Palestinians in Gaza, historic Palestine, and throughout the world.
•Stop Israel’s Genocidal War
•End the Siege of Gaza
•Provide Immediate Humanitarian Aid to Gaza
•Defend the Civil Rights of Palestinians and Palestine Solidarity Activists
•Stop All Aid to Israel
•Enforce Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel
Rally on Burlington’s Church Street on Thursday Nov 9th
started at the steps of City Hall, then the Rally re-located to a fund-raiser for Rep. Becca Ballint to demand our Washington Congressional delegation call for ending US-funded genocide, and:
- an immediate Ceasefire;
- humanitarian aid to Gaza;
- no more military aid to Israel
Media reports below – ‘The Rake Vermont’ and ‘VT Digger’ have a lot more detail.
WCAX TV By WCAX News Team
“Protesters in Burlington call for ceasefire in Israel-Hamas war”
VT Digger “U.S. Rep. Becca Balint. They demanded that the first-term representative meet with them in person.” by Patrick Crowley, November 9, 2023.
The Rake Vermont “Protesters Disrupt Rep. Balint Fundraiser, Demand Ceasefire and End to Military Aid to Israel.” November 9, 2023, by Patrick St. John.
Including video of the Rally and Rep. Ballint speaking about her options.
Sponsors:
Vermonters for Justice in Palestine, UVM Students for Justice in Palestine, Tempest Collective, Migrant Justice, FreeHer Vermont, Champlain Valley Democratic Socialists of America, UVM Democratic Socialists of America, Party for Socialism and Liberation, Will Miller Social Justice Lecture Series, People’s Kitchen
Despite apparent news black-out in main stream media, here is a report of actions around the globe: From The Guardian
Montreal “Thousands in Montreal demonstrated in support of people in Gaza on Saturday, drawing attention to the humanitarian crisis and demanding Prime Minister Justin Trudeau call for an immediate ceasefire.”
Local coverage here from The Rake
Media Advisory – Report to Media.
November 9th in Middlebury – “Open to Middlebury College Community Only”
Ceasefire Now!Rally on Burlington’s Church Street
5 pm, Friday Nov 17th
Hundreds of people gathered at City Hall Park to support the people of Palestine and to protest the genocide and dispossession of the people ‘From the River to the Sea’ and the coordinated and concerted efforts of the colonial powers to perpetuate their own crimes.
People also spoke passionately about their fears for the Jewish people everywhere because of the actions of Zionist Israel supposedly in their name.
Others spoke of the intimidation of Palestinian people at UVM, and urged us to rise up and continue the struggle against racism and all struggles for liberation and freedom from exploitation. Representatives from local organizations spoke, including Central Vermont Jewish Voice for Peace, Burlington Tenants United, Vermonters for Justice in Palestine, Vermont Peace Antiwar Coalition, and the Party for Socialism and Liberation, the primary sponsor of the event. .
from RakeVt.org.
